It’s the small things we do in the workplace that speak volumes to our employees. The ways we can show them we value them as individuals, not just for the work they do.
The last few days, we’ve had some dedicated men roofing our garage in bitter cold winter weather. I’ve been feeding them a hot home-cooked meal each day to get them warmed up. I am so grateful they are willing to finish the job in this cold weather. They would do it without the meal, but it shows my appreciation for the extreme work conditions. They are very appreciative and curious because it is not the norm.
As I think back to my childhood, we always fed the people we hired on the farm even though we were paying them. We took extra care they had a hardy meal and a heaping helping of appreciation. We worked alongside them when needed and listened to their suggestions. My dad never had a hard time finding help. It is these values I learned from my parents that has taught me how to treat people.
It’s the small things we do in the workplace that speak volumes to our employees. The ways we can show them we value them as individuals, not just for the work they do. It’s these attitudes that keep employees doing quality work even when you are not there. It’s how they can show you they care, too.
Start by greeting each employee by name and asking about things important to them outside of work. For example, ask them about a child graduating high school, an approaching wedding, their recent vacation, or asking (genuinely) how they are doing after an illness or loss. To start, ask them, “what did you do over the weekend?” It’s easy over the holidays to ask people about their plans. They may look surprised the first time you ask them but eventually, they’ll look forward to your little chats.
Make yourself approachable. Pitch in when you are short-handed and let them teach you some tricks they’ve learned about the job. Get out of the office and ask their advice about issues how to solve problems. Each person sees things from a different perspective. Looking at issues from all angles can be invaluable in problem-solving.
Finding out what’s important to your employees lets you know what motivates them. When they know you care about them, they will take pride in the work they do.
Show you care!
Jean
